Builder articles from March 2001

Builder archives from March 2001

Wake-up Call.(preparing for economic down turn)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Did you really think this expansion would go on forever? I hope you didn't. WE'VE HAD A GREAT RUN THESE PAST NINE YEARS. But now, by all indications, we're coming in for a soft landing. You've had plenty of time to get a contingency plan...

BMAIL.(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2001... Live/Work I ENJOYED THE ARTICLE "FULL CIRCLE" (January page 145). You did a nice job of covering the intent of this progressive concept while capturing the lifestyle the residents would enjoy. I make only one suggestion: Add more coverage...

Blackout Blues.(California's electricity interruptions)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Reliable electrical power is a fact of life. Or is it? WELCOME TO CALIFORNIA, FIRST OF THE 25 deregulating states to learn that free-market electricity can be unpredictable and pricey. As BUILDER goes to press, California's energy crisis is...

NAHB: Rats, Mud, and Cold.(National Home Builders' Association office expansion plagued with problems)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... The addition of several floors to the NAHB's headquarters and the expansion of the building beneath it created problems of nearly biblical proportions for the staff in January. The building has been plagued by an infestation of rats, which have...

Coming to Terms.(definition of lis pendens)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... LIS PENDENS: Latin for "suit pending." A recorded notice of the filing of a suit, the outcome of which may affect title to a certain land or home purchase.

Start Counting.(builders ignore financial information)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Time to balance or go broke. Seems a record number of home builders rarely check their income statements or even their balance sheets. According to an ongoing study by St. Louis-based RBG&Co.'s Home Builders Services Group, only 41 percent of...

Buh-Bye, Barney.(Bob the Builder cartoon debut in United States)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Builders have a new recruiting tool--for youngsters, anyway. Nick Jr., a subsidiary of the children's network Nickelodeon, recently launched the hit animation series "Bob the Builder." Brace yourselves for merchandise, toys, and, of course, a...

Caging the Beast.(popularity of sport utility vehicles leads to demand for larger garages)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Are Americans growing out of their garages? DESPITE SOARING GAS PRICES, MORE SUVs crowd the roads than ever. And they're not just for builders anymore. It seems that every mail and Starbucks parking lot is bumper to bumper with harried...

CHINA GOES COUNTRY.(demand for country homes rising)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Many newly prosperous Chinese have created demand for new homes in China. Inspired by French provincial designs, thousands of people are building $500,000 retreat homes in the Chinese country-side. Those houses cost roughly 500 times more than...

COOL HOUSES.(California energy conservation)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... According to reports from the California BIA in Sacramento, Calif., home builders will begin constructing more energy-efficient homes. California already has the toughest energy regulations in the country; new policles enacted by the California...

ATLANTA SOFTENING?(lot prices)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... BUILDER heard that Atlanta lot sales were softening in December. Betting on more in-migration from the 'burbs, many builders say they may tap into the lower prices for in-town sites.

SINGLE MOMS.(births by single mothers on rise)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Census data show that since 1998, the rate of children being born to single mothers continues to rise.

What's Next?(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Y2K worries may be over, but now the new millennium may bring a slew of other problems. Buckle up and take cover. The Trend Letter, a business forecast newsletter, predicts a year of terrorist tensions, a dead NASDAQ, internal divided political...

Office Rent Reduction.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... CNN reports that rental rates for commercial office space in San Francisco's Bay area are dropping. What's happening? Given rampant tech layoffs, less space is needed, and companies are consolidating. The market had been tight for 24 months,...

Guerrillas in Our Midst.(vandalism by environmentalists)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Infuriated by the ongoing loss of wild lands and resources, environmentalists take up the torch. IT'S EASY TO LABEL THEM EXTREMISTS, ANAR-chists, or even criminals, but the group known as the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) has highlighted a...

High Tech, Low Tech.(environmentally designed home)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... This student-designed home improves Old World materials with high-tech Innovations NINE MONTHS OF THE YEAR, BRAD TITO lives off the grid, just a mile from downtown Prescott, Ariz. But with 2,000 square feet of space, including cathedral...

Eco-Warriors Strike.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Rainforest Action Network "stuck" on Builders' Show. HAVING DISRUPTED LAST YEARS Builders' Show by unveiling a banner over the Boise Cascade booth, three members of the Rainforest Action Network (RAN) this year stuck to applying stickers...

Dot-Com Dance.(International Builders' Show)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Internet firms vie for attention at Builders' Show, but builders and analysts remain cautious. AT THIS YEAR'S INTERNATIONAL Builders' Show, Research Triangle Park, N.C.-based BuildNet offered free coffee and pastries in the morning and...

THE STRAIGHT DOPE.(new CEO for Pulte Homes)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH Pulte Promotion Burgess retires at Pulte, O'Brien moves up. Pulte CEO Robert K Burgess will retire at year's end clearing the way for Mark J. O'Brien, Pulte's president and COO, to take...

Small Wonder.(stud finder scans)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... THE CANDY BAR--SIZED ISENSOR STUD FINDER scans for wood and metal studs in drywall UP to 3/4-inch deep. Its one-touch operation, instant calibration, and LED display help find studs quickly and accurately Available in six translucent colors...

Against the Wall.(Vesuno faucet)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... THE VESUNO WALL-MOUNT FAUCET IS SPECIFICALLY DE-signed to accompany above-the-counter basins and bar sinks. It has a self-contained lever and mixer unit that is built into the plate, which eliminates the need for distracting separate levers and...

Taken for Granite.(sink)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... EQUIPPED WITH A RECESSED DRAIN AREA that helps keep water off the counter, the Granite sink is made from 1/4-inch-thick granite engineered with acrylic polymers. It can withstand temperatures up to 536 degrees F and is virtually scratch-proof...

Made to Measure.(measuring tape )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... BANG IT, DROP IT, OR KNOCK IT--THIS HEAVY-DUTY PROFESSIONAL 25-foot measuring tape keeps measuring. The lightweight, 100 percent American-made magnesium case is stronger than a conventional plastic case and has a non-slip rubber grip on the top...

Stone Age.(stone batch accessories)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN the Stone Age and the Tech Age with the Tech line of cast stone bath accessories. Each accessory is a bold expression of contemporary design and style. The towel rack and glass shelf with corbels are made by hand and are...

Clear Headed.(showerhead)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... FEEL THE POWER OF THE DELUXE TOP 4 SHOWERHEAD'S four unique Relexa Plus spray settings. Each setting de livers a consistent and satisfying water spray pattern. SpeedClean is a patented anti-lime system that helps keep the head lime-free and...

Many Happy Returns.(Georgia-Pacific Corp., Habitat for Humanity)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Partnering with Habitat for Humanity offered real-world challenges for this corporate giant. THE TOP BRASS AT GEORGIA-PACIFIC Corp. can feel your pain. When the well-known forest products company agreed to help build six Habitat for...

Instant Mortgages.
March 1, 2001... Computerized credit analysis makes loan approvals much easier but has potential risks for overzealous borrowers. IN TWO WAVES OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS, 65 years of consistent standards for mortgage underwriting were abandoned and replaced by...

Smooth Transition.(residential design)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Q: My buyers tell me they're tired of opening front doors and seeing the whole house. How can I create a plan that has more transitions, one that evolves as buyers walk through the house? A: FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF DECADES, RESIDENTIAL...

Mixed Bag.(housing market)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Mortgage rates drop but so does consumer confidence. WITH MORTGAGE INTEREST RATES continuing to fall, many economists Continue to forecast a soft landing with housing leading the way to a slower but steady pace of growth this year and next....

Home Work.(cabinetry for home offices, office furniture)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Home office cabinetry offers built-in solutions. IN THE OPENING SCENE OF "THE FLINTstones" cartoon, Fred Flintstone hears the whistle blow, slides off his dinosaur, jumps in his car, and races homee from a hard day's work. Once work is...

The Natural Touch.(countertop manufacturers offer natural stone colors and textures)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Solid-surface countertop manufacturers offer natural stone colors and textures. THE POPULARITY OF NATURAL STONE countertops has increased in the past few years. That's why manufacturers are producing countertops that look like natural...

Energy Saved.(energy-efficient homes )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Five programs were recognized by the NAHB and the DOE as examples of exemplary voluntary, market-driven approaches to achieving energy efficiency in U.S. homes. The honored programs, exceeding Model Energy Code (MEC) requirements, are the...

Raising the Dead.(position of the National Association of Home Builders on brownfield legislation)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2001... Revitalizing the country's brownfields can add hundreds of thousands of dollars to tax revenues. OF ALL THE ISSUES IMPORTANT TO infill development and the effort to revitalize our inner cities, perhaps none is more significant than reform...

Facing Profit Challenges.(profitability of single-family home builders )(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2001... Will builder profits float in more tumultuous times? MANY FIRMS IN THE HIGH-TECH and manufacturing sectors have experienced stunning contractions in net earnings; this development has put heavy downward pressure on the market valuations of...

Active April.(house building for baby boomers)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Home buyers ages 55 to 65 are healthier and wealthier than ever and expect their housing choices to reflect their more active, independent lifestyles. "In 2001, the first wave of baby boomers--3.2 million--will turn 55," says Leslie Marks,...

Senate Joins Care Program.(United States senators and their staff volunteer with Habitat for Humanity)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Senators and their staffs work together to build Habitat houses. AS ONE OF THE NATION'S LARGEST builders of affordable housing, it is no wonder that Habitat for Humanity is being embraced as part of Home Builders Care by home building...

Bungalow Renaissance.(housing development in Long Beach, California)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2001... First-timers flock to Long Beach, Calif., to feather their nests. SET ON TWO CITY BLOCKS, THESE CHARMING BUNGALOW-STYLE HOMES SELL FOR an affordable $194,990. They draw first-time home buyers to The Olson Co.'s Renaissance Walk community in...

Road Show.(townhome development in North Kirkland, Washington)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2001... A Washington builder makes the most of a tricky site--and scores lots of sales. BUILDING ON A STEEPLY SLOPED SITE NEXT TO A BUSY FREEWAY created multiple challenges for Bellevue, Wash.-based Pryde Corp. To give Sonoma Villero, a North...

Have You Heard?(condo development in Chicago, Illinois)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2001... Word of mouth sells out a Chicago condo project. MOHAWK NORTH HOMES OCCUPIES ONE OF THE OLDEST PARTS of Chicago, but there's nothing antiquated about this urban in fill project. The four-story structures incorporate insulated concrete...

Samaritan SALUTE.(environmentalis and builder, Keith Johnson, wins public service award)
March 1, 2001... BUILDERS BY PROFESSION. SAMARITANS BY CONSCIENCE. SAVIORS IN THE EYES OR THE DOWNTRODDEN THEY SERVE. THESE TIRELESS PHILANTHROPISTS DO MORE THAN GIVE BUILDERS A GOOD NAME. WHO KNEW THOUSANDS OF BULDERS MOONLIGHT TO MAKE ENDS MEET? These...

URBANE RANGE.(construction industry)
March 1, 2001... Carefully clustered among Boise Front foothills, a new small town nurtured by a son of Idaho springs up beside Dry Creek. POST-WAR DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES CREATED AN ANONYMOUS SAMENESS, bladed and graded beyond history or nature. For at least...

BEYOND SMOKE & MIRRORS.(kitchen construction and design)
March 1, 2001... The latest trends in kitchens and baths eschew empty design statements in favor of function, comfort, and simplicity. TREND FORECASTERS PREDICTED AN AGE of nesting in the new millennium, and they were right. Today, with people spending more...

MARKET MAGIC.(Housing industry marketing awards)
March 1, 2001... What do shrewd investments and outstanding marketing efforts have in common? They both pay big dividends. To be sure, the eighth annual NAHB National Sales & Marketing Awards netted a record-high yield. Judges culled more than 1,000 ads,...

Stick Homes To Go.(housing production management)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... A Denver company adds a new twist to factory building. THE COMPREHENSIVE RESidential Building System (CRBS) can bring assembly-line efficiencies to the production jobsite and keep large projects on track regardless of the weather. CRBS is a...

E-Maps.(for Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Housing and Urban Development)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Do you want to find out whether there are any EPA activities near a potential building site? Check out HUD's E-MAPS (www.hud.gov/emaps). Users can retrieve EPA and U.S. Census data for any neighborhood, census tract, city, or county in the...

Easy Networks.(home network products)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Home networking got a potential boost this January, when attendees at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas were treated to the first public demonstration of a new networking standard. According to Matt Swanston of the Consumer Electronics...

Gateways Growing.(housing information systems)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... The market for residential gateways will more than triple over the next five years, from 8.6 million units in 2001 to more than 33 million units in 2005, according to the recently released "Residential Gateway Report" from the research firm...

The Envelope, Please.(Housing energy systems awards information)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Energy technologies seem poised for the mainstream. IN THESE TECH-OBSESSED TIMES, innovative building technologies seem to appear daily. But are they affecting the building process? That's where the Energy Value Housing Awards come in....

Glass House.(glass composite products)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Florida builders try a new composite. WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS to build a better product," says Tim Rumbler, president of Centex Homes' Naples-Fort Meyers division in southwest Florida. Rumbler's crews are just finishing a pair of...

The #1 Source for Bath Enclosures.(Duschqueen product information)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Looking for the right bath enclosure for your next project? Duschqueen has what you're looking for. Duschqueen offers attractive, innovative and practical solutions for every bath and every lifestyle. The company is the #1 source for the...

Beauty and Purity in the Kitchen.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... The advent of ceramic glass as a material for cooktops has added a new option for kitchen design - seamless, elegant integration. Appearing to vanish when not in use, ceramic glass is amazingly tough and easy to keep clean. Kenyon offers the...

Decreasing Dust.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... When renovating a kitchen or bath, dust is an inevitable problem. Keep the rest of your client's house dust-free by using the ZipWall Dust Barrier, an innovative product that allows you to effectively control dust. ZipWall easily creates a...

Seaside Retreat.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... This Southern tidewater cottage is a perfect hide-away-blending easily into the seaside scenery The Key West style boasts a stone and horizontal siding exterior, set off by a wraparound entry porch. The study offers built-in cabinetry while the...

Timeless Victorian.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... This plan features all of the classic details that have made the Victorian home a timeless design. The spacious front porch offers wood-turned posts, gingerbread trim and a cozy gazebo area. Inside, an impressive entry boasts a two-story...

American Beauty.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... This design is accented by a circular front porch and an abundance of windows. The entry leads into the grand foyer, where a radius staircase leads to upstairs sleeping quarters. The first-floor master suite boasts many amenities, including a...

Global Influences.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Columns and keystone lintels lend a European aura to this stone-and-siding home. Arched openings and decorative columns define the formal dining room. A ribbon of windows with transoms draws sunshine into the living room. A well-planned kitchen...

Grand Vistas.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... With a rugged stone-and-siding facade, this neighborhood-friendly home establishes a timeless character in any region. A portico leads to a foyer that extends to the grand salon. Interior vistas extend through the living area to a rear covered...

Lombardo Companies Create Quality, Neo-Traditional Homes for Entry-Level Homebuyers.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... As real estate prices continue to rise, the dream of owning a new home is beyond the reach of most entry-level homebuyers. The Lombardo Organization, a 40-year old, family-owned and operated metro Detroit homebuilding company, attempts to...

Comfort and Luxury.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... This stately home provides the homeowner with a winning combination of efficiency and luxury. The interior features sets of decorative columns that allow open views. In the right wing, the master suite offers a vaulted sitting room and spacious...

Wide Open Spaces.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... This traditional design fits well into a countryside setting and boasts an abundance of amenities. Inside, the great room and hearth room offer fireplaces. The kitchen features a snack bar and walk-in pantry. The master suite provides a sitting...

Character and Charm.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... This traditional two-story home incorporates a side-entrance garage, which adds character and charm to the multi-gabled facade. The entry opens to the dining room and the vaulted great room, where a fireplace is flanked by two radius windows....

Fabulous Farmhouse.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... This five-bedroom country plan features a front porch, dormers and a Palladian window. Past the foyer, the living room boasts a central fireplace with built-ins and access to the breakfast nook and kitchen. The master suite enjoys privacy on...

Great on Space.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... A wonderful combination of textures, trim and windows enhance this attractive design. A covered porch opens to an entry gallery flanked by a formal dining room and study. The great room boasts a vaulted ceiling and fieldstone fireplace. A...

Modern Colonial.
March 1, 2001... Colonial meets farmhouse style in this design, furnishing old-fashioned charisma with a flourish. The interior holds a contemporary floor plan filled with amenities. Double doors lead to the country dining room, which is open to the island...

Grand Manor.
March 1, 2001... Asymmetrical gables and a graceful arched entry supported by square columns complement a careful mix of stone and siding with this magnificent and stately facade. Inside, the foyer opens to a spacious living room that offers views of the front...

New Country.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... The pedimented porch and paneled front door of this spacious Country home leads to a foyer that includes a coat closet and powder room. The octagonal great room provides a fireplace, built-in bookshelves and access to a rear deck. A gourmet...

Necessary Amenities.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Offering a compact footprint while providing today's necessary amenities, this traditional home is ideal for corner lots. Inside, the foyer leads to the living areas available on the first floor. The gourmet kitchen includes plenty of counter...

Form and Function.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Within this compact design lies a wealth of livability. The foyer leads to the entertainment zone on the first floor, which includes the dining, living and kitchen areas. Sleeping quarters are privately tucked away upstairs, including a master...

Formal Country.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... This home skillfully blends formal design with Farmhouse style. Inside, a winding staircase is the focal point of the foyer. The living room, gently lit by a bay window, opens to the dining room. The great room offers a fireplace and French...

Touch of Elegance.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Corner quoins, louver vents and arches add a special touch of elegance to the brick facade of this traditional home. The foyer leads to a corner living room that is defined by decorative columns. The dining room offers backyard access and...

World Class.(house)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... High arched windows illuminate the extensive interior of this elegant home. The first floor includes a spacious living room and a family room with a through-fireplace. The island kitchen leads to an open formal dining room. The well-planned...

Room to Grow.(house description)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... This just-right country plan is an efficient amenity-filled masterpiece. Inside, the vaulted family room is warmed by a fireplace. The kitchen features a handy serving bar, a pass-through to the family room, and a breakfast room with access to...

Heart of the Country.(house)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Simple and traditional, this lovely home features a grand facade. Inside, the entry opens to the living/dining room, which overlooks the rear porch. The octagonal family room boasts a fireplace and leads to the kitchen and breakfast room. Two...

Dramatic Exterior.(house)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... The entry foyer of this home opens to the formal dining room and leads to the living room, which shares a through-fireplace with the family room. The breakfast area features a bay window and a tray ceiling. The master suite offers a tray...

Scottsdale Ranch, Ariz.(Markland Properties L.P., Costain Ltd.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... CHILLY CANADIANS DISCOVERED ARIZONA WARMITH--AND wealth--at Scottsdale Ranch. Markland Properties' and Costain Ltd.'s 1978 desert oasis still draws "snowbirds" to roost on man-made Lake Serena's 5-mile shore. More than 20 years, 4,000...

Two Roads Diverged.(building industry)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... AS THE GAP WIDENS BETWEEN LARGE AND SMALL BUILDERS, A CHANGED INDUSTRY EMERGES. THE GROWING DIVERGENCE BETWEEN small and large players just can't be denied. Time and again these days that divergence is demonstrated, most recently at the...

Sunnier Prospects.(Del Webb Corp.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... DEL WEBB'S NEW STRATEGIC PLAN OPENS DOORS FOR OTHER BUILDERS. AFTER SURVIVING A NASTY PROXY battle late last year over a buyout offer from an unwanted suitor, management at Del Webb hopes a new spread-the-risk strategic plan will calm its...

Tops in Tucson.(M.D.C. Holdings acquires KE and G home building assets)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2001... M.D.C. Holdings bought itself the No. 1 spot in the Tucson, Ariz., market by acquiring the assets of KE&G Homes. The Denver-based company purchased KE&G's home building assets and will operate in Tucson under the name Richmond American Homes....

Argentina Bound.(Pulte Homes Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Pulte Corp. is broadening its international reach with its first project in Argentina. Located in Pilar, a northern suburb of Buenos Aires, the La Lomada gated community will feature 240 single-family detached homes with an average selling...

Rising Tide.(United States tax cuts)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... BUSH'S TAX CUT COULD BOOST HOUSING. WHEN PROPOSING ONE OF THE largest tax cuts in American history, President John F. Kennedy eloquently characterized the impact of increased disposable income, saying "a rising tide lifts all boats."...

INDUSTRY MOVERS AND SHAKERS.(recent appointments)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Mark J. O'Brien, Pulte's president and COO, will become the company's CEO at the end of 2001. CEO Robert Burgess plans to retire after 18 years with the company. Founder William Pulte will assume the role of chairman of the board, a position he...

Fresh Changes.(Richmond American Homes web site)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Richmond American Homes' revised Web site, www.richmondamerican.com, lets prospects virtually tour all of its models and check out special promotions. The site is fast and fun. Browsers search by location or by specific home criteria (number of...

On the Block.(buying Federal Housing Administration properties)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... HUD PROGRAM OFFERS OPPORTUNITY FOR INFILL BUILDERS. BACK IN 1997, HUD WENT BEFORE Congress. "[Theyl pointed out that the FHA is the worst landlord in the country" recalls Alan Greenlee, director of internal affairs for the western branch of...

Wiring Disconnect.(home buyers unsure of structured wiring)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... BUILDER FINDS HIGH-TECH HYPE CONFUSES BUYERS. DESPITE ALL THE TALK ABOUT THE UNIVERSAL AP-peal of high-speed Internet access, many home buyers may not want it--at least not yet. In fact, many aren't even sure what structured wiring is all...